Steam-trap.



M. P. osBoURN.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 27, 1909.

Patented 1180.5, 1911.

Snowdon akku/nu,

Witnesses UNITED srATEsrlArENa-onmcn MILLARD P. OSBOURN, OFMERCHANTVILLE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WARREN WEBSTER 8c COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.'

STEAM-TRASP.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

Application filed July 27, 1909. Serial No. 509,869.

vented an Improvement in lSteam-Traps, of.

which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to steam traps,

and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in thefollowing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings whichform a part thereof. The objectof my invention is'to provide a form ofautomatic steam trap which is adapted more particularly for use inconnection with steam heating systems preferably of the vacuum type, andarranged to perform the function of permitting the escape of the waterand air from the radiator, but restricting or preventing the escape ofsteam therefrom whereby the heating may be done in an efficient mannerand the full capacity of the radiator be always available for heatingwithout material loss of steam.

My object is also to provide a construc-' i tion of trap which may beemployed on steam mains, orl in any other yconnection where it isnecessary to remove the water without permitting the escape of steam.

My invention also consists of certain improvements which are fullydescribed both as to their construction and operation hereinafter inthis specification, and more particularly defined in the claims.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the drawings, inwhich:

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a steam trap embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional plan of the same on line Fig. 3is an elevation of the upper part of the steam trap; and Fig. 4 is asectional view corresponding to portions of Fig'. 1, but on a largerscale. f

The trap consists essentially of a body part having inlets and outletsseparated by a valve seat and from which body upwardly extends a motordevice comprising a diaphragm which is operated upon under differentialpressure made effective by variations in the level of the water in thevalve body, and said motor device is caused to operate a valve pieceextending down to and coperating with the valve seat.

an inlet in its side at 3, and an outlet at t `6 is the valve piece, andin the particular form shown it is tubular and extends upward to aconsiderable distance and is connected to a diaphragm 12 by a suitableclamping head 18, and by which diaphragm it is raised and lowered.

7 is the bonnet of the valve body and upon the upper part of this bonnetis screwed a tubular case 8, and upon the top of this tubular case isscrewed the lower part 9 of the motor device. The `part 9 forms a lowerchamber 29 which is closed above by the diaphragm 12 and may communicatewith the case 8. Above the diaphragm and screwed to the lower part 9 isa head 10 forming within it a closed chamber 11 above vthe diaphragm 12.Screwed into the top of the head 10 is a plug 15 between which and theclamping head 18 of the diaphragm is placed a coil spring 14. Byadjusting the plug 15 it is' evident that the spring 14 may be made to`put-varying pressures upon the diaphragm jand valve piece to `vary theresistance to the raising of the valve piece under 'the motor action.Screwed into the vupper end of the ytubular valve 6 and opening into thechamber 11 is an adjustable valve seat bushing 16 through which the airmay escape. Im-

mediately below this valve seat bushing 16- `and inclosed within thetubular valve piece isa thermostatic member 17 in the form ;of a rod ofsmaller diameter than the internal diameter of the valve piece 6 andhaving 'a coeicient of expansion greater than the coefficient ofexpansion of the tube forming the valve piece. The lower end of thisthermostatic member 17 is screwed into a bushing secured within thevalve niece 6, with provision for the escape of air from around thethermostatic member 17 through its bonnet 7 and are preferably housedwithin the tubular case 8. 'Iheir upper ends connect respectively withpassages 19 and 23 in the lower part 9 of the motor device. The passage19 communicates upwardly and inwardly through a port 22 into the chamber11 at a small distance above the diaphragm 12. The passage 23 in asimilar manner communicates upwardly and inwardly through a port 24 withthe chamber 11 and slightly above the diaphragm 12, but the level of theport 24 is lower than the level of the port 22 just the same as thelevel ofthe bottom of the tube 21 was lower than the bottom of the tube20.

I prefer to form the cap 10 of the motor device with a considerableamount of cooling surface, and as illustrative of this feature I providethe cap with ribs 13. In practice, there may be any number of theseribs, and they may be arranged in any suitable manner.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the water hasbeen discharged to a level below the tube 21, the valve piece 6 will beclosed upon its seat. If the air has been exhausted, then the action ofthe steam which may find its way through either or both of the tubes 20and 21 will, upon passing through the valve seat bushing 16, heat thethermostat-ic member 17 and cause it to expand to close the port in thevalve seat bushing 16. Should air be present in the system and bepassing through the valve seat bushing, then be-` cause of its coolercondition, the thermostatic member 17 will not be expanded sufficient toprevent the passage of the air, and consequently the air will be drivenor drawn through the valve seat bushing 16, thence into the valve piece6 and out by the outlet port 4. The valve seat bushing 16 may beadjusted so as to insure responsive action by the thermostatic memberthe moment steam passes, whereby the said member will properly close theport in the valve seat bushing the moment any material quantity of steampasses. Assuming that the water of condensation iows into the bodythrough the inlet 3 sufficiently to close the bottom of the tubes 20 and21, we will then have the steam in the chamber 11 shut off from theinlet and it will condense because of the construction of the cap. Whenthis condensation takes place, the water from the body 2 will be causedto rise in the tubes 21 and 20, and will, by providing columns of watercooperating lwith the vacuum produced in the chamber 11, cause thediaphragm 12 to be raised at its middle portion, and this will raise thevalve piece 6 from the seat 5 and permit the discharge of the water fromthe body until the bottom of the tube 20 is uncovered. When this latteraction takes place the steam rushes through the tube 20 and by passages19 and 22 enters the chamber 11 to destroy the vacuum. Instantly thevalve piece 6 is lowered, and further discharge of the water through thevalve piece 5 is prevented. When the water again rises in the body 2 toseal the lower part of the tube 20, the steam in the chamber 11 againcondenses, and the operation of lifting t-he valve piece 6 is againrepeated. 'Ihe outlet port 24 being closer to the diaphragm 12 than theport 22 permits the water of condensation above the diaphragm to flowfrom the chamber 11 through the port 24 and by passage 23 into the tube21. The outlet port 24 should preferably be somewhat lower than the airvent port in the top of the valve seat bushing 16 so as to insure thewater of condensation passing back into the body 2 instead of passingthrough the thermostatic controlled member. By having the lower ends ofthe tubes 2O and 21 at small diiferences in their levels, the dischargeof the water from the trap is very perfect and each discharge is insmall quantities, the apparatus being adapted to operate that thedischarge might be considered as taking place with the regularity of theswinging of a. pendulum. By having the tubes 20 and 21 of considerableheight, it is evident that when the sealing of the tube 2O takes place aconsiderable suction will be produced by the vacuum within the chamber11 before the water rises through the tubes into the said chamber, andthe adjustment of the valve piece controlling spring 14 is such that thevacuum may be suicient to operate the valve piece either before or justabout the time that the water rises in the tubes 2O and 21 anddischarges into the chamber 11, and thereby helps to condense the steamand make the motor diaphragm responsive. No matter how much water mayrise in the tubes 20 and 21 and find its way through the ports 22 and24, said water will instantly be discharged through the port 24, passage23, and tube 21, the moment the lower end of the tube 2O is unsealed andthe steam rushes through the said tube in the chamber 11. Vhen theadjustment is such that the momentum of the water under the action ofthe steam pressure may cause some discharge into the chamber 11, thesteam and air will always be caused to pass through the tube 20, whereasthe tube 21 will always be filled with water, together with such air asmay entrain with it during its discharge through the port 24 from thechamber 11. The tube 21 is in effect a drain tube for the chamber 11,whereas the tube 2O is fthe supply tube for steam and air to the chamber11, and also acts as a counterbalance tube when the water is suddenlycaused to rush up said tube under the vacuum in the chamber 11, whetherby the condensation of the steam therein, or by the partial vacuumcaused by the sucking of the return pipe of a steam heating systemuponthe outlet port 4, or by the superior column of water Vwhich may be inthe tube 21, due to the rushing down of the water of condensation, andthis counterbalancing action in the tube 2O helps to make the motoraction in the diaphragm 12 more responsive.

In the operation of the apparatus with a normal height between the body2 and the chamber 11, there is more or less intermittent circulation ofwater up through the tube 20 into the chamber 11 alternating with steamand air, and a discharge of the water of condensation with or withoutentraining air downward through the tube 21. The surplus air passes olfthrough the thermostatic member. In those cases where it is notessential to provide for taking care of the air, the thermostatic membermay be omitted.

Vhile I have shown the tubular valve piece 6 as forming a snug litthrough the bottom of the lower part 9 of the' motor device, it is to beunderstood that it is free to move vertically through said guiding partunder the operation of the diaphragm, and it will also be understoodthat while there is no positive communication between the chamber belowthe diaphragm and within the part 9, nevertheless, this chamber 29communicates with the steam space incasing 8 by thev guide part 28 andwould in eifect be a steam chamber in which the pressure would beapproximately equal to that in the casing 8 and the body 2. This guidingpart 28 and the bonnet 7 act as vertical guides for the reciprocatingvalve piece 6 but is not steam tight.

Vhile it is preferable that the difference between the levels of theports 22 and 24 should approximately correspond to the difference in thelevels of the bottoms of the tubes 20 and 21, and the colums of waterwhich may exist in these two tubes practically balance each other whenthe water in them is in a state of rest, it is evident that the port 22might be relatively higher up in the cap 10 than what is shown withoutchanging the level in the bottom of the tubes 20 and 21. It is alsoevident that by materially changing the levels of the bottoms of thetubes 20 and 2l, the operation of the device may be varied as to itsintermittent time of action, that is to say, aV greater discharge ofwater may be required to take place with each operation'. It is moredesirable, however, to employ only a slight difference in the levels ofthe bottoms of these tubes as the apparatus is more responsive and moreregular in its action.

The bonnet 7 may be provided with holes 25 in its top, so that the samesteam temperature which exists in the body and withcasing 8 whichincloses the said tubes 20 and 21 and the valve piece 6. AIn this mannerthe tubes 20 and 21 are prevented from acting as condensers, andconsequently, the motor device is dependent upon the condenser action ofthe cap 10 coupled with the control thereof by the water sealing of thetube 20 in the body 2.

While I have shown a form of thermostatic member which is suitable forthe purpose, and to enable the air to be discharged through the valvepiece 6, it is evident that any other character of thermostatic memberfor permitting the escape of air while restricting the passage of steam,may be employed, and it will be self evident that it is not at allnecessary that this thermostatic member shall be arranged in the valvepiece itself, as it may be arranged in any other manner so long as theair within the chamber 11 is permitted to escape automatically orotherwise.

I have shown my apparatus in a form which I have found suitable forcommercial operation of my invention, but I do not restrict myself tothe details of construction shown, as it is evident that these may bemodified in various ways without departing from the spirit or theessential features of the invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isz- 1. In a steam trap, the combination of abody having inlet and outlet ports and a valve seat opening into 'theoutlet port, a valve piece controlling the outward flow of water throughthe valve seat, a diaphragm motor device for operating the valve piece,a drainage passage opening from the motor device close to the diaphragmand discharging into the body above the outlet port thereof, and a steamsupply passage opening into the motor device above the diaphragm andalso into the body at a higher level than the opening between thedrainage passage and the body.

2.`In a steam trap, the combination of a body having inlet and outletports and a valve seat opening into the outlet port, a valve piececontrolling the outward flow of water through the valve seat, a drainagepassage opening from the motor device close to the diaphragm anddischarging into the body above the outlet port thereof, and a steamsupply passage opening into the motor device above the diaphragm at ahigher klevel above the diaphragm than the level of the drainage passageabove the diaphragm and also into the body at a higher level than theopening between the drainage passage and the body.

3. In a steam trap, the combination of a lbody having inlet and outletports and a I valve seat opening into the outlet port, a

valve piece controlling the outward flow of water through the valveseat, a diaphragm motor device for operating the valve piece, a drainagepassage opening from the motor device close to the diaphragm anddischarging into the body above the outlet port thereof, a steam supplypassage opening into the motor device above the diaphragm and also intothe body at a higher level than the opening between the drainage passageand the body, a spring device to oppose the opening of the valve pieceby the motor device, and means to adjust the tension of the spring.

4. In a steam trap, the combination of a body having inlet and outletports and a valve seat opening into the outlet ports, a valve piececontrolling the outward iow of water through the valve seat, a diaphragmmotor device for operating the valve piece, a drainage passage openingfrom the motor device close to the diaphragm and discharging into thebody above the outlet port thereof, a steam supply passage opening intothe motor device above the diaphragm and also into the body at a higherlevel than the opening between the drainage passage and the body, and athermostatically con-` trolled air vent through the motor device and thevalve piece for permitting the escape of air but restricting the passageof steam.

5. In a steam trap, the combination of a body having inlet and outletports, and a valve seat opening into the outlet port, a tubular valvepiece controlling the outward flow of water through the valve seat, adiaphragm motor device for operating the valve piece, a drainage passageopening from the motor device close to the diaphragm and discharginginto the body, a steam supply passage opening into the motor deviceabove the diaphragm and also into the body at a higher level than theopening between the drainage passage and the body, and athermostatically controlled air vent through the motor device and thevalve piece for permitting the escape of air but restricting the passageof steam, said controlled air vent comprising a valve seat bushingarranged in the diaphragm of the motor device and a thermostatic membersecured to and carried by the tubular valve piece for controlling thepassage through the valve seat bushing.

G. In a steam trap, the combination of a body having inlet and outletports and a valve seat and opening communicating with the outlet port, avalve piece for controlling the flow of water through the openingthrough the valve seat, a motor device arranged at a higher level thanthe body and connecting therewith and comprising a steam chamber, adiaphragm above the steam chamber and a condensing chamber above thediaphragm, connections between the diaphragm and the valve piece, andtwo tubular passages connecting the condensing chamber with the interiorof the valve body at differentlevels above the outlet port thereof.

7. In a steam trap, the combination of a body having inlet and outletports and a valve seat and opening communicating with the outlet port, avalve piece for controlling the iow of water through the opening throughthe valve seat, a motor device arranged at a higher level than the bodyand connecting therewith and comprising a steam chamber, a diaphragmabove the steam chamber and a condensing chamber above the diaphragm,connections between the diaphragm and the valve piece, and two tubularpassages connecting with t-he condensing chamber at di'erent levels andalso with the interior of the valve body at different levels above theoutlet port thereof.

8. In a steam trap, the combination of a body having inlet and outletports and a valve seat and opening communicating with the outlet port, avalve piece for controlling the How of water through the opening throughthe valve seat, a motor device arranged at a higher level than the bodyand connecting therewith and comprising a steam chamber, a diaphragmabove the steam chamber and a condensing chamber above the diaphragm,connections between the diaphragm and the valve piece, two tubularpassages connecting the condensing chamber wit-h lthe interior of thevalve body at different levels above the outlet port thereof, andadjusting means for regulating the action of the motor device to varyits responsiveness.

9. In a steam t-rap, the combination of a body having inlet and outletports and a valve seat and opening communicating with the outlet port, avalve piece for controlling the flow of water through the openingthrough the valve seat, a motor device arranged at a higher level thanthe body and connecting therewith and comprising a steam chamber, adiaphragm above the steam chamber and a condensing chamber above thediaphragm, connections between the diaphragm and the valve piece, twotubular passages connecting the condensing chamber with the interior ofthe valve body at dierent levels above the outlet port thereof, andthermostatically controlled means for permitting the escape of air fromthe condensing chamber while preventing the passage of steam.

l0. In a steam trap, a body in which the water of condensation collects,combined with a valve device for controlling the iiow of water throughthe body, and a motor device for operating the valve device consistingof a closed chamber, a movable part connecting with the valve device tooperate it and moved by varying pressures in the closed chamber, and twotubular passages connecting the interior of the body at diilerent levelsabove the outlet of the valve device with the closed chamber.

ll. In a steam trap, a. body in which the Awater of condensationcollects, combined with a valve device for controlling the iiow of waterthrough the body, and a motor device for operating the valve deviceconsisting of a closed chamber, a movable part connecting with the valvedevice to operate it and moved by varying pressures in the closedchamber, and two tubular. passages connecting the interior of the bodyat dii ferent levels above the outlet of the valve device with theclosed chamber at correspondingly dii'erent levels.

12. In a steam trap, a body in which the water of condensation collects,combined with a valve device for controlling the iow of water throughthe body, and a motor device for operating the valve device consistingof a closed chamber pro-vided with cooling ribs whereby it acts as acondenser, a movable part connecting with the valve device to operate itand moved by varying pressures in the closed chamber, and two tubularpassages connecting the interiorV of the body at different levels abovethe outlet of the valve device with the closed chamber.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

MILLARD I. OSBOURN.

Witnesses:

R. M. KELLY, J. M. CUNNINGHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, By addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. v

